Your top 5 from US Nationals.

[moonvine]

Mr Ma’s scintillating SP doesn’t even make your top 5?That was the best I’ve ever seen him skate, ever, and I’ve been watching him for years.

Don’t tell me the wedding is off!

I can't watch it. It's like when Gracie skated that fabulous short in Boston. Taylor Swift was tweeting it, I was so excited. Then came the long program. And knowing what I know now, I I wonder if she had enough muscle tone from starving herself to complete a long program.
Yes it was a great short program. He still ended up in 5th...so close to getting named to teams, yet so far.

 

[moonvine]

Mr Ma’s scintillating SP doesn’t even make your top 5?That was the best I’ve ever seen him skate, ever, and I’ve been watching him for years.

Don’t tell me the wedding is off!

The wedding will never be off!

 

[Arigato]

1. Torgashev SP
2. Torgashev FS
3. Pulkinen 3A SP
4. Pulkinen emotional outburst at end of SP
5. I can't tell you, but I laughed out loud

 

[iluvtodd]

1. Torgashev SP
2. Torgashev FD
3. Ellie Kam & Danny O'Shea SP
4. Efimova & Mitrofanov - FS
5. Jimmy Ma - SP

 

[Lamente Ariane]

With the caveat that I haven’t watched the men’s free skate yet…

Alysa Liu SP
Brown/Brown RD
CPom FD
Jimmy Ma SP
Camden SP

Honorable mentions: Sonja Hilmer both programs, Starr Andrews FS, Amber’s FS 3A, Alysa’s increased sass in the FS and very funny press conference, Torgashev and the rest of the men in the final group of the SP, Green/Parsons both programs, Wolfkostin/Tsarevski RD, the entire pairs field having a pretty great SP… probably more I’ve forgotten too

 

[Lamente Ariane]

I don't really want to play favorites so here is my version

1. The skaters, for working so hard all year for this and bringing the best they could under pressure
2. The amazing practice videos & commentary from Jean-Luc Baker, Gracie Gold, & Jackie Wong
3. For the Live Broadcast duo of Ben Agosto & Ashley Wagner - that's a lot of talking. You were full of great facts, respectful of the skaters and had great rapport. Kudos for Ashley managing to complete the job with laryngitis
4. The coaches and choreographers putting in long hours and for being supportive of your skaters - good or bad skates
5. The City of Wichita and all the volunteers for putting on a very well run Nationals and on your first try!

I agree with all of this but especially the commentary. When I was searching YouTube for clips I could send friends and family who do not subscribe to Peacock, I came across one of Sonja Hilmer commentated by Tara and Johnny and was completely appalled. T&J had practically nothing but negative things to say about Sonja, only remarking on her jumps being under rotated or not having as much speed going into them as others. They said nothing about her 3s-2s combo, nothing about her toepick spin variation (even as you can hear audible gasps and claps from the audience!) and basically did worse than not educate the casual watcher. They almost seemed bored.

By contrast Ashley and Ben emphasized that they’ve never seen anyone else do Sal-sal combos, pointed out and got excited for the toepick spin, talked about all her choreography work for others and explained her goal was a top ten finish which she achieved. They were respectful and warm and explained for casual viewers what is exciting about Sonja as opposed to Tara simply saying she was “unique.”

 

[MariaGold]

1. Torgashev LP
2. Z/K RD
3. E/M FP
4. CPom FD
5. Gabi ice dance commentary

 

[apgold]

Not in any particular order

• Brown/Brown RD
• Liu SP
• Ma SP
• Torgashev FS
• Zhang SP

Honorable mentions to Camden's Step Sequences, E/M Pairs FS, Skylar Peguero-Lautawa FS (Junior Women), Ilia's 4A, Amber's 3A.

(I also enjoyed most of the commentary I heard from JLB, Ben Agosto, Jackie Wong, Gracie, Ashley (despite her laryngitis) and Gabi P. I am so over Tara and Johnny, especially talking during the performances. Yes, I get it they are told to do that to explain to newbies what they are seeing but after a while adds little value and its just distracting. Johnny doesn't bother me when he's with other commentators, oddly enough. And Adam's backstage peeks were interesting too.)

 

[slider11]

1. Kam/O'Shea SP
2. Aysa Lui SP
3. Green/Parson's FD
4. Camden Pulkinen's SP
5. Ilia Mallinin SP

 

[labgoat]

I agree with all of this but especially the commentary. When I was searching YouTube for clips I could send friends and family who do not subscribe to Peacock, I came across one of Sonja Hilmer commentated by Tara and Johnny and was completely appalled. T&J had practically nothing but negative things to say about Sonja, only remarking on her jumps being under rotated or not having as much speed going into them as others. They said nothing about her 3s-2s combo, nothing about her toepick spin variation (even as you can hear audible gasps and claps from the audience!) and basically did worse than not educate the casual watcher. They almost seemed bored.

By contrast Ashley and Ben emphasized that they’ve never seen anyone else do Sal-sal combos, pointed out and got excited for the toepick spin, talked about all her choreography work for others and explained her goal was a top ten finish which she achieved. They were respectful and warm and explained for casual viewers what is exciting about Sonja as opposed to Tara simply saying she was “unique.”

On the practices Gracie also had interesting and informative comments about Sonja and how she practices an hour a day on spins. Also worth checking out.

 

[skylark]

Alysa Liu SP - "Promise"
Alisa Efimova/Misha Mitrofanov FS
Audrey Shin/Balasz Nagy FS
Emilea Zingas/Vadym Kolesnik RD
Ilia Malinin SP

 

[moonvine]

On the practices Gracie also had interesting and informative comments about Sonja and how she practices an hour a day on spins. Also worth checking out.

She also said anyone could become a good spinner if they practice an hour or more a day spinning. But spins aren’t worth anything so who but Sonja would do that?